SOUTH HAVEN (WHTC-AM/FM) — As the fire alarm sounded, 10-year-old Tony Marsala was quick to get into the car with his dad, Robert, who was responding as a member of the Covert Township Fire Department.
Now, nearly 50 years later, including 34 years with South Haven Area Emergency Services, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshall Tony Marsala is about to answer his last call as a professional firefighter. His final day on duty is Friday, June 7.
It has been a career of dedicated service by a man who decided he wanted to be first responder at a young age. He became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) as a teenager and began training for the fire service right after graduating from Covert High School.
Early in his career he worked for the former South Haven Township ambulance service and was a paid-on-call member with the Covert Fire Department. He was a field medic and safety officer with Bechtel Power before becoming a fulltime member of the Covert department in 1984. He also worked part-time in the emergency room at South Haven Community Hospital.
He joined the South Haven Fire Department, now SHAES, fulltime in 1985. He was promoted to Captain in 2008 and has served as Deputy Chief/Fire Inspector since 2010.
His qualifications have covered a broad spectrum including inspector, investigator, vehicle maintenance certified, diver certification, and firefighting training instructor. He is also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and is one of SHAES’ fireboat operators.
In 1989 he was chosen the department’s Firefighter of the Year.
“Tony has been such a great asset to our department,” said Chief Ron Wise. “He was always kind and compassionate with patient care, professional and courteous during fire inspections and a mentor for our county’s fire academy students and new recruits. Tony will be truly missed around the department.”
“I have been truly blessed with a wonderful career,” said Marsala, “I am grateful for the support of the SHAES Board, my colleagues within the department and especially from the community.”
Marsala and his wife Pam are in the final stages of returning to where it all began for Tony with the construction of a new home on the family homestead in Covert. The Marsalas have two children, Tony Jr., and Stacy.
— Story and photos contributed by Tom Renner
